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Muzaffarabad: An extraordinary meeting of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Cabinet was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore.During the meeting, the cabinet endorsed the decisions taken by the federal government in response to the evolving regional and global situation. While appreciating the federal government’s austerity initiatives, the cabinet also approved a series of cost-cutting measures to be implemented immediately across AJK.To reduce fuel consumption, the cabinet decided that the use of petrol and diesel in vehicles of all government departments would be cut by 50 percent for the next two months.Under the austerity plan, ministers, advisors and special assistants will forgo their special salaries for two months, while the salaries of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) will be reduced by 25 percent. In addition, senior government officers in Grade 20 and above earning more than Rs300,000 per month will contribute the equivalent of four days’ salary, which will be used for public relief.The cabinet also approved a 20 percent reduction in other government expenditures. A temporary ban has been imposed on the purchase of furniture, air conditioners and similar items by government departments, with any essential procurement requiring prior cabinet approval.Foreign visits by ministers, advisors, special assistants and government officers have also been completely banned. Departments have been instructed to hold meetings through teleconferencing and online platforms to save fuel and resources.To further reduce expenses, a one-dish policy will be enforced at official dinners and iftar gatherings, while conferences will be held at government venues instead of hotels.The cabinet also decided that, except for essential services, 50 percent of staff in both public and private institutions will work from home, and offices will operate four days a week. However, this decision will not apply to banks.Additionally, all schools will observe a two-week holiday starting at the end of this week and will remain closed until March 3, while higher education institutions will conduct online classes depending on available resources. The cabinet approved Rs2 billion for strengthening health infrastructure to meet the needs of the health department. It also granted risk allowance for field staff and officers of Rescue 1122.
Through a unanimous resolution, the cabinet paid tribute to the sacrifices of the Pakistan Armed Forces in the ongoing war against terrorism and strongly condemned external aggression against Iran.
Earlier, special prayers were offered for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs of the Pakistan Armed Forces, the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and the Kashmiri martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the ongoing freedom movement.
